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San Francisco's hybrid taxis prove their worth
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04-02-2009, 08:04 AM
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Livin' in the FAS lane!!
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Vehicles: '02 Insight 5spd MT, '02 Elantra 5spd MT
Location: Coon Rapids, MN
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San Francisco's hybrid taxis prove their worth
 "We warranty the batteries for 150,000 miles and here you have cabs going out of service at 300,000 -- because that's the law, not because the cab's used up."
Maria L. La Ganga - The Los Angeles Times - Mar. 30, 2009
What better endorsement for this technology could you possibly find? --Ed.
Even here, in the capital of true believers in one thing or another, Paul Gillespie stands out.
The veteran cabby and former president of the San Francisco Taxicab Commission is one of the reasons this city's taxi fleet is vying to be the most environmentally correct in the country.
After years of advocating for hybrid taxis, Gillespie, who says he has "the carbon footprint of an Ethiopian child," now has proof that they are green in more ways than one.
San Francisco's first 15 hybrid taxis, all Ford Escapes, have made it to about the 300,000-mile mark -- nearing the city's official taxi retirement age -- and are being taken off the road. Their longevity shows that hybrid technology is more durable than previously imagined; they also have saved drivers about $9,000 a year, depending on gas prices and number of shifts driven.
"Ford never really intended this vehicle to be used as a taxi," Gillespie said as he tooled around the city's hilly Pacific Heights neighborhood in the silent hybrid. "We adopted it because I was desperate to find a... [Read More]
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04-02-2009, 08:12 AM
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Beat The System
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Vehicles: 1996 Civic DX 5spd sedan, 2004 Odyssey
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 7,878
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Re: San Francisco's hybrid taxis prove their worth
That's a serious endorsement! Good for Gillespie for pushing this forward. Now others can / should follow the leader.
__________________
Andrew
CleanMPG FE Challenge
100 mpg - 11 mi commute
129 mpg / 3.4 mi segment
82.4 mpg / 1133 miles tank
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04-02-2009, 09:17 AM
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Trying to be kind to Mother Earth
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Vehicles: '07 Prius, '10 Focus, BMW motorcycle
Location: Somewhere, NY
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Re: San Francisco's hybrid taxis prove their worth
Maybe Fords really are being built better these days.
Harry
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04-02-2009, 09:20 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 328
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Re: San Francisco's hybrid taxis prove their worth
Am I reading that right? They batteries in all 15 of these went to 300k miles and STILL weren't dead?! Awesome!
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04-02-2009, 09:52 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Vehicles: 2008 Toyota Yaris LB AT 3dr
Posts: 152
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Re: San Francisco's hybrid taxis prove their worth
More impressive coming from a Ford but considering that Ford has investments in Mazda, I think some Japanese engineering is taken into account. Ford is also the only US automaker with decent hybrids. I think we should sticky this article around somewhere along with other ones that we have as an archive as proof that hybrid batteries last longer than one could imagine. I've seen a used hybrid with 200k miles selling for 10k still but can easily find others under 100k for slightly more at 10-15k excluding salvaged ones.
Last edited by KrazyDawg : 04-02-2009 at 10:17 AM.
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04-02-2009, 09:58 AM
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Livin' in the FAS lane!!
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Join Date: Apr 2007
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Re: San Francisco's hybrid taxis prove their worth
To the best of my knowledge, Mazda had no input in the development of Ford's hybrids.
__________________
- Sean
|  | <-- She got to drive an EV before I did!!  |
I'm a slow driver with a FASed car! 
New? Start here!
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04-02-2009, 10:05 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2008
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Re: San Francisco's hybrid taxis prove their worth
Quote:
Originally Posted by KrazyDawg
More impressive coming from a Ford but considering that Ford has investments in Mazda, I think some Japanese engineering is taken into account. Ford is also the only US automaker with decent hybrids.
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If we're showing the importance of outside influences, I'd say Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive which Ford licensed should really be the standout here. I compliment Ford for not screwing up a good thing.  |
04-02-2009, 10:12 AM
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Livin' in the FAS lane!!
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Vehicles: '02 Insight 5spd MT, '02 Elantra 5spd MT
Location: Coon Rapids, MN
Posts: 15,800
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Re: San Francisco's hybrid taxis prove their worth
Please search the forums. Ford didn't license Toyota's Synergy Drive. There are some licensing agreements forged to avoid patent infringements, but both based their work on what was developed by the PNGV back in the 90's -- that's why they are so similar.
__________________
- Sean
| | <-- She got to drive an EV before I did!! |
I'm a slow driver with a FASed car!
New? Start here!
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04-02-2009, 10:49 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Vehicles: 98 CRV, 94 Del Sol Vtec, 92 Caddy Deville
Location: Laurel, MD
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Re: San Francisco's hybrid taxis prove their worth
Whoa! I want a Hybrid. My wife wants me to want and therefore get another SUV. This article has given me serious pause. I would like to know what their maintenance costs were and know what problems they encountered. Still, it's hard to sneer at 300 000 cabby-driven urban miles.
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04-02-2009, 12:08 PM
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Older Member
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Join Date: May 2008
Vehicles: 2009 Ford Escape & 2003 Toyota Corolla
Location: Woburn Mass
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Re: San Francisco's hybrid taxis prove their worth
I was looking at one to replace my CRV, but they are too pricey.
http://www.watertownford.com/detail-...d-3488995.html
This 08 has been on the lot about 3 months..
(But was a rental & has been in a crash, I think).
We have one at work and I gave it a test ride. Not too impressed.
I plan to take it out again soon and update my review..
__________________
Cheers,
Rich
2.5L with a 6 speed AT? The lazy man's Hypermiling SUV!
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